I know a lot of us had to be more budget-conscious in 2025, and, well, inflation is a thing, so that will probably have to continue in 2026. Although you might assume that your beauty routine will suffer because of it, worry not. As a beauty editor, I've mastered the art of curating a solid routine that delivers results without costing a fortune.
One category of beauty I always turn to for this is K-beauty. It continues to be popular year after year due to its effective, innovative, and budget-friendly formulas. Whenever I'm looking to keep things affordable, that's the first place I look. From serums and milky toners to acne-friendly moisturizers, Korea truly has it all.
On the other hand, even if I am ballin' on a budget, I always try to leave at least a little room for luxury because, sometimes, you just need to treat yourself. Whether your beauty budget is looking slim for 2026 or you have some room to splurge, I'm sharing what's on my shopping list in both these categories for the year. For some under-$30 heroes and totally worth-it luxury items, read on ahead.
The Under-$30 Beauty Items I'm Investing In
If you have sensitive skin like I do, this lightweight gel-cream moisturizer will be your new BFF for winter. It's great for redness, dryness, and breakouts—all at the same time. It contains niacinamide to help fade dark spots and reinforce the skin barrier, Centella asiatica extract for irritation relief, and one of my favorite ingredients, beta glucan, which helps skin recover from any damage. At just $22, it's the perfect investment if you need a really good moisturizer but don't have a lot to spend on one.
This Celimax serum is a must if you like radiant, hydrated, healthy-AF skin. It somehow manages to pack 150 types of antioxidants found in noni extract into one serum to protect skin from environmental stress and reduce the signs of aging. It also helps fade dark spots and provides a next-level amount of hydration to the skin without being heavy or pore-clogging. It's the perfect serum for anyone who likes to keep their routine simple and doesn't want to spend a ton on skincare. TBH, it gives you such an unreal glow that people will still think you're using something expensive.
Korean sunscreens are totally elite IMO, and this is one of my all-time favorites. It features one of my favorite ingredients for redness, skin damage, and acne: beta glucan. The texture of this is super creamy and feels more like a moisturizer than a sunscreen. It also doesn't leave any kind of white cast—a huge bonus for my fellow Black and Brown folks out there.
Acne care can be super tough if you also have really sensitive skin, but so many Korean brands have mastered the art of formulating for this skin type. These pads are the best ones I've used that clear clogged pores and blackheads quickly without causing burning, redness, or stinging. I know a lot of formulas say they're "gentle enough for daily use" but rarely mean it. This one, however, does! It's one of the few formulas I can tolerate using daily. Heartleaf extract soothes skin while gluconolactone (a gentle PHA) clears clogged pores.
It always surprises me that this argan oil rich deep-conditioning mask is only $3 a pack at Target. I've been using it a few times a week for a year and it's made such a positive difference in my curly, coarse hair. It isn't overly heavy and the packs are pretty sizeable. You don't need to use the whole thing after one wash. You can get two to four uses out of one packet, depending on your hair type.
JVN products are my latest obsession. I was honestly surprised this cream worked so well for my curly, low-porosity hair because I assumed it would work best for straighter hair types, but I love being wrong. It's the perfect "actually for all hair types" styling cream. It's super light on the hair but smoothes down frizz so easily. It also adds plenty definition and shine to my curls.
Honestly, I've been a devoted Dove Deep Moisture Body Wash ($11) girlie for over 20 years, so it's not easy to get me to pick up something new in this department. However, I tried Josie Maran's creamy, hydrating, and delicious-smelling formulas a few years back, and it now has a permanent spot in my shower routine. I love all of Maran's products, but the texture of this bodywash is just heavenly. It provides the perfect amount of moisture and lather without me having to use a ton of product to get there.
I randomly tried this out a year ago and ended up loving it so much that I used it to the very last drop. It's definitely strong so keep that in mind, but it's so effective for rough skin, body bumps, and body acne. I had some congestion on my arms, and it cleared it after just one use. It's an elite combination of chemical exfoliants (AHA, BHA, and PHA) along with physical exfoliants to buff everything away. My sensitive skin reacted a bit the first time I used it, but now that I've adjusted, I use it at least twice a week for smooth, clear skin.
The Luxury Items I'm Investing In
I've been a fan of Shani Darden and her products since I first became an editor. While I've tried plenty of very expensive products at this point, Darden's products strike the perfect balance between extremely effective luxury formulas that don't cost over $100. They start working incredibly fast and are all noncomedogenic but extremely hydrating—perfect for any skin type. If you find yourself able to splurge a bit more on skincare this upcoming year, this antioxidant- and moisture-rich serum is the perfect investment. All of Darden's products give an ethereal glow and my skin always feels and looks healthier immediately when I use them.
Another luxury brand I reach for time and time again is Cosmedix. The brand has an overwhelming amount of great products, and its Elite line says it all. An aesthetician recommended this sulfate-free cleanser for dehydrated skin to me, and I totally fell in love. It still has a nice lather to it without stripping or drying out your skin. It's the perfect winter cleanser but great year-round as well—especially if you have a damaged skin barrier and your skin gets dehydrated easily.
This is easily the most expensive serum in my routine, but you know what? It's totally worth it. It's such a great serum for fine lines, breakouts, and antioxidant protection. It truly does it all and is still great for sensitive skin. Like I said, it's rare I find an exfoliant I can tolerate daily, but this one is the best in terms of luxury options. It's also pregnancy-safe if you've had to overhaul your routine recently because of a pregnancy.
As far as retinoids go, this one is one of the best on the market IMO. Again, it's hard to find a retinoid that's extremely effective and doesn't irritate super sensitive skin. But, this Medik8 formula has been my ride-or-die for a few years now. It's non-irritating and works so fast. You can see the before and afters in my review I did a while back.
Pepoxide is another serum from the Cosmedix Elite line that I always come back to. It does so much on its own that you can really streamline your routine. A potent mix of peptides and antioxidants help bring radiance back to dull skin while firming, hydrating, and reducing the appearance of fine lines. Any time I use it, it instantly perks up my skin.
This luxurious Everything Shower Set from Cyklar smells amazing and makes me feel like I'm in a fancy hotel every time I use it. If you want to splurge on your bodycare items, these are the ones to try. They are more expensive than your average drugstore items, but they're not totally outrageous and leave your skin feeling baby soft.
My skin struggled for a while with moisturizers. It was dehydrated and needed extra moisture, but most heavier moisturizers tend to clog pores. This Shani Darden cream continues to be my number one in this department because it's rich enough for dehydrated skin but doesn't cause congestion if you're acne-prone. It's perfect and another one of my all time favorite products from Darden's line.